Marissa Nadler is an American singer-songwriter who just released her fifth studio album. Safe&Sound had a chat with this talented artist who’s playing a three gig tour in Finland on October.
You’ve released your eponymous fifth album this summer, how would you describe it in one word?
Ethereal.
Ok, let’s move on to sentences. At the end of the day do you feel that you’ve reached the aim?
Yes, I am very happy with the record. Producer Brian McTear really helped me to achieve my goals with it. I mean, with any work of art, there are always things that you wish to change. Nevertheless, once artwork is released into the world, it is there forever. It is part of the risk and the beauty of giving.
How was it like to listen your record when it came out?
I don’t listen to my own records after I stop having to. I listened on vinyl to test the “test pressing” and was really happy with the separation of the sounds on the vinyl. I run my own label so I had to sit through. But, I was happy with the sound quality. It’s strange to listen to your own music. I suppose I listen for mistakes that can be fixed before the record is out in the world forever.
Your lyrics are very fragile, where the melancholy fountains to your songs?
Yes, they are. I am my songs. I am as fragile and often as melancholy as my songs. They are part of me and I am part of them. They are honest and delicate. Too much for some people, I am sure.
Where do you want to lead your listener?
To a meditative, introspective place.
Do you see continuum on all your five albums?
Yes, absolutely. I don’t see each record as a “statement.” I am an artist who has been working and releasing records and touring for a long time. Each time I make a record, I try my best to make it my essence. Each record is connected, by both the people in them, and the worlds they create.
On your record you sing about Alabaster Queen, what it’s about?
It is about wanting a man to marry me. I was obsessed with someone and daydreaming about the possibility of being the “queen to his king” to quote one of my favorite songwriters, Allysen Callery.
Your voice is worshipped throughout music scene and reviews, when did you realize that you possess something special?
Unfortunately, I don’t think I have really realized too deeply. But I think that is a good thing. It is no secret I suffer from stage fright and have my whole career. Self doubt runs deep inside of me. But, something keeps pushing me and I believe it is the desire to create. I feel compelled to share these songs, even though standing up on a stage is so hard for me. To be a writer and singer and songwriter are very different than being a performer. The latter has alway been the hardest assumption to overcome. But, I am now at a place where I am becoming more confident and believing in the merit. When you have had a long career of tough breaks, sometimes It is hard to believe in yourself. But, lately, I feel really good about my playing of the guitar and stuff like that.
You and your family have a vast artistic background, how did you end up doing music?
My brother, Stuart, who is a writer, played the guitar. He really influenced me early on. My parents listened a lot to good old classic rock music. I really got into it then when I was 16, although I started playing at 13 or 14. So, I have been playing guitar now for 15 years.
Who were your musical influences then?
Nina Simone, Edith Piaf, Stevie Nicks, Patti Smith, Roy Orbison, Elizabeth Cotton, Black Sabbath, Frank Zappa, Fleetwood Mac, Yes, Joni Mitchell, Neil Young, Nirvana, Hole, Bob Dylan, Throwing Muses, Mazzy Star, Belly, Slowdive, Ella, Billy Holiday, Leonard Cohen, Nick Drake…. I could go on and on and on.
How about now?
Catherine Ribiero and the Alpes. A lot of stuff.
You funded your last record partly with Kickstarter program. How did you end up with that decision?
My label, Kemado/Mexican Summer (named after my own song Mexican Summer) dropped me because my sales weren’t high enough. Business is business I guess. It hurt like hell. I didn’t want to emotionally go through rejection again. So, I decided to do it myself. It’s becoming more of a thing, at least in the US, that labels are becoming less important.
What are your experiences of it, do you see that as a new way for artists to fund their productions?
It was a lot of hard work. Yes, it is the wave of the future if you are organized enough to follow through on your promises. My European fans really came out in droves and it meant the world to me at a time where I needed it. It’s a great too. Art should be made. It makes the world beautiful.
Did it affect to your composing process? I mean could you concentrate fully to your record and composing without worrying the funding?
I had written the songs before I did the campaign, so, no. I focus first and foremost always on the artwork. I will say that putting the record out has taken me away from writing more than I wanted it to. But, now that I found a distributor, they do a lot of the work. Cutting out the middle man, I guess.
Do you ever feel creatively blocked?
Of course, especially when suffering from depression.
How do you get out of it?
I think that it just ebbs and flows. You can’t hit yourself over the head and make yourself write. It will be bad. It is better to wait until the music comes to you in an inspired way.
You’ve done also few side projects, how did you end up singing sessions on black metal band Xasthur’s latest album?
Xasthur, aka Scott Connor, was a fan of my music. My bassist also was the bassist in Earth. They were friends and Scott asked me to do it. I am always into trying something new.
I had fun doing it.
That is something one couldn’t see coming, was it easy for you to jump into to a total different musical world?
Yes. It was a great to sing without words and scream and chant.
What kind of experience was it?
A very good one. I will work with Xasthur or some of side projects again.
Do you see similarities in your music?
Yes. We are both loners and there is darkness in both of our songs. That is why he felt drawn to me. Black Metal isn’t such a distant world from what I do, if you think on the bigger picture and take away the acoustic instruments.
You’re on a European tour this fall, what are your expectations on that?
That the audiences will be better than in the USA. That it will be my last tour for a while so that I can mentally recuperate and work on a record for the winter release. I expect Finland to be a wonderful place as usual and I hope to get naked in a sauna.
What would you like to people to experience when they listen to your music?
Beauty and honesty and purity. Delicacy, sometimes hurt and anger.
Marissa Nadler on tour in Finland:
14.10. Tampere, Klubi
15.10. Turku, Dynamo
16.10. Helsinki, Kuudes linja
